04/03/2012 Match of the Day 2

Those three Barclays Premier League games coming your way as well as

action from yesterday, debris's Goal of the Month and reaction to

the departure of AVB from Chelsea. Alan Shearer joins our constant

source of light and inspiration, Lee Dixon. We start at White Hart

Lane with the Spurs against Manchester United. The wheels have

come off Tottenham's title Page. Two wins in the last six has stop

their momentum. Last week they looked all set to beat Arsenal but

then there was a derby day disaster. Today was a chance to a raise that

nightmare. Led by the Dad's Army duo of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes

you would not bet against United winning another crane. Last week,

Ryan Giggs popped up in injury-time to take the points. The dad are

Manchester United will win today. A look at the five. Gap between

Manchester United and City says that it would be a bad one for them

to lose. Scott Parker is suspended and van der Vaart is injured. Wayne

Rooney is back after his throat infection. After today, United's

next eight games are against teams outside this morning's top eight.

The stakes are high on a freezing on this ground since Manchester

City put five against them, back at good save by De Gea. The clearance

area. There will be a card here. The first of the game, for Phil

corner Andy used to be Teddy Sheringham who got on the end of

But it is ruled out for hand ball. Market -- Martin Atkinson says No

goal. It probably would have gone in had Adebayor not been standing

there. There was the faintest of touches against his arm.

Inadvertently, Adebayor got in the way and the referee says he used

his arm to bring it under control before flicking it into the back of

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the net. A big part of the cheeks what Manchester United do! Wayne

Rooney, with 30 seconds of the first half to go, a straightforward

goal. Big questions to answer in the Tottenham defence here. Wayne

Rooney put them in front. A broad That is a save and a half from De

and it is a free kick. The pace is unrelenting and the tackles and

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last half an hour of this game could be epic. Young! 2-0,

Manchester United! Ashley Young scores the goal that put clear blue

water between them and spares. It comes against the run of play. But

again, Manchester United absolutely clinical, as Tottenham were

underwear from the throw-in. Danny could not be offside from the

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attacking in this game but three up at White Hart Lane, with a

goal from the very top drawer. Special, special moment from Ashley

Young. They have been given a stiff examination by Tottenham Hotspur

today have Manchester United but they have had composure, confidence,

world that has a good record against Manchester United but

recently it is pretty dismal for Tottenham. That is what Jermaine

Defoe does so often. Sloppy from Manchester United, given away. It

seemed all too easy for Jermaine Defoe to put the ball in the back

of the net. It was not deflected. It has not been an easy afternoon

for Harry Redknapp. This was a stroll for United as

they keep the heat on City. The Blues' lead is again back to two

points. As for Spurs, they simply had no answer, suffering again

against a side they haven't beaten since 2001. We will one - nil down

at half-time, it was soul- destroying to see them score, they

created nothing. Make no mistake, they are a good side but we made

them look ordinary. They just overran us at times and

it is a miracle we were 1 - nil at half-time. What we're thoughts

about the goal that was disallowed? I thought it was harsh, it should

have stood. And the second one was that saved. That was a fantastic

save and it was a turning point. You have to defend better than we

did. From where I was it looked as if it was going in. Did you feel

the same? I think so. When I hit it I felt that it was going in. One of

your better goals. It is always nice to get on the scoresheet. But

it was a good team performance and we got those three points in the

we got those three points in the end.

Whitehead phones?! -- wipe their head phones?! The referee, I

believe that he got it right. Lennon goes past Jones. It comes

straight enough frump Louis Saha. Adebayor doing his best to try to

Adebayor doing his best to try to get out of the way. I know that is

not deliberate, but it came down on to his hand. And I think the

referee gets it right. It definitely does hit his hand. The

letter of the law actually says that handball has to be deliberate.

But rarely do you actually do that anyway. And if that was a defender

on the line trying to stop it in the same circumstances I am pretty

sure that the referee would give it. The word deliberate was taken out

of almost every feedlot law. -- FIFA. Apart from the hand ball. But

it is not really applicable. I lost count of how many penalties I gave

away with handball. Probably just two of those were deliberate, the

rest of them accidental. But you know it is going to be a penalty.

And I think it is the same with that one, the referee has to

disallow it. Using Keady is the right decision? I think in fairness

it should be disallowed but the letter of the law says it has to be

deliberate. Now Manchester United, five shots on target. Well

Tottenham were superb, they put Manchester United to the sword at

times and outplayed them in midfield. But today they got it

perfectly right. But ultimately they were undone by a couple of set

pieces. Harry Redknapp will be really disappointed. Walker and

Rooney, there is already space in front of Wayne Rooney. There is

that space. He has got his hands on his hips, Walker, not ready for the

moves that an experienced player like Wayne Rooney gives him. This

one is even worse. When you get the winner behind the full-back

defending Europe in all kinds of trouble. -- you are in it all kinds

of trouble. And that space, and it really is schoolboy stuff. This is

a brilliant finish. Great technique. And they were undone by then.

Undone by a really poor defending when they had played so well as

well. That drives managers not so, because those set pieces are so

vitally important that throughout the season. The number of goals

scored and conceded from set pieces is astounding. It is a big lesson

for Kyle Walker anyway, he is a promising player and that will be a

big lesson to him. Standing with his hands on his hips, not ready

for the shot. And if you know your winner is marking behind you for me

that is a warning sign. I want him in front. The performance was there

but it is the business of results. What is going on with Tottenham

Hotspur's at the moment? For me I think it was telling, Parker was

not there today. Rafael Van Der Vaart was not there. But when they

have got their full team, the lads did pretty well, but without Gareth

Bale and Parker then they are a different team.

Well that's take a look at where we stand in terms of points at the

moment. The fixtures are coming up. The thing with United, I think it

is easier to chase them to be chased. City are two points ahead

of them. They have some big games, the Chelsea game, the Arsenal game.

United have an extra game at home but they have to go away to

Manchester City. I think it will boil down to that. I do not think

there will be many points dropped at all. It is all set up for that

Derby game. Swansea at home are fantastic. They cannot win it.

Right, before we move on, let's get all our ducks in a row.

We're in West London for Fulham against Wolves.

We'll show you the best action and incidents from yesterday.

We'll bring you February's goal of the month and the saves of the

season. Plus, who next for the permanent

Chelsea hotseat as Andrea Villas- Boas goes bye-bye.

Now, back to Sunday's highlights and it's often said that modern day

football lacks a little bit of the old school bite that many fans want

to see on a football pitch. Feast your eyes on this. Alan Pardew and

Martin O'Neill have put the sunshine back into North East

football. They are set to bring the European football back to Newcastle.

O'Neill has won seven since taking charge. He worked his black cats

magic and Sunderland had lost the last two. Nothing like a Derby Day

to return to top form. Quite simply there's nothing like

the Derby, not in this part of the world. The week has all been about

the build up too high noon in Newcastle. The team is the same

that Throwley Way a two-goal lead to draw up against Wolves last week.

wins to three. But it is the sort of game that is just about

impossible to call. But it was a certainty that Lee Cattermole and

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Cheick Tiote were going to get we go. The manager having words as

had not had a caution all season before this. It is a penalty.

Sunderland have the chance to take the lead in front of a stunned St

James's Park. There is little doubt when you see it slowed down by that.

Nicklas Bendtner has hardly set the world on fire, of what about now?

This could be the making of him as a Sunderland player. He has got the

Derby going and Sunderland lead in Newcastle. He has given Sunderland

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supporters were saying before the game but this could be the game for

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home supporters, just one minute Now there are few more angry

caught Tiote, and he is off! A look of disbelief is written across the

face of Mike Dean. I have to say it is a pretty pathetic punch, or

swing of the arm. The reaction of Mignolet was ready when the moment

rash. Newcastle United get the penalty and there is a bit of a

reaction on the touchline as well. Martin O'Neill has to be pressed

away. Fraizer Campbell has only and four goals all season. But

Mignolet saves! Corner for just wide! Another corner! He

stepped off his line, they always is just something about the Derby

that brings out the best in Shola William son and Ameobi got enough

contact on the ball to beat Mignolet. Quite incredible. He has

not scored since October. He ends the drought against the team he has

scored more goals against than any other. His 7th time where Derby

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for another tempestuous Derby. For Newcastle United and Alan Pardew,

that will feel like a win. And it has not ended on the final whistle,

because Lee Cattermole just kept on chatting to the referee and he has

been dismissed. The captain, sent then! What a match, only two goals

but the tackles were full-blooded I was a little disappointed in the

first of because we seem to get wrapped up in what seemed to be a

game plan by Sunderland. I thought it was ugly. It was strong,

patriotic, vitriolic, all the things you expect from the derby of

this nature. In actual fact I have to say that I'm was enjoying it,

perhaps in a perverse way. Do you have a clue what you did when the

penalty was awarded when the goal went in. I have just seen it and I

have not covered myself in glory, but I just felt it was a bit of

justice. I was really angry that so many physical challenges that would

going in there were a necessary. came off the bench a goal down, and

the man just to go and grab the goal. It is something that in the

past I have been able to do in the past against Sunderland. We had

words on the side and he is passionate for his team and I'm

passionate about my team and its bills over. It would be carried on.

It will be dead and buried tonight as far as I'm concerned. Until next

Interesting watching that derby match with you, Alan, although you

were not much of a screamer. thought it was a fantastic game

with everything you would want of a Derby. Great atmosphere. I have to

say that I thought Sunderland were the better team can the first half.

Their game plan worked. One of the reasons for that was because

Newcastle found it very difficult to get the ball up to the front men.

Certainly, when they have done that, it came straight back, they were

not able to get hold of it. That link-up play. Another one here.

Gutierrez is trying to support Demba Ba but there is a poor touch

once again. Again the ball into Gutierrez. You tell me what the

Ford is supposed to do with that. Again, it is straight back to

Sunderland. But, second half, first minute, first quality ball in to

Cisse. Look at the movement of Demba Ba in the middle of the

screen. In 218 Fred, he turns, and that is the first minute of the

second half -- in took Demba Ba. They went on to dominate the second

half from that and Ben Arfa played his part. Sessegnon for Sunderland

was the one player causing problem but Ben Arfa did that in the second

half. For Sunderland it might be wrong to pull out one player over

another because it was all about 11 men. They had again plan and

Cattermole was at the heart of it at the beginning. They stop the

ball up to the front men of Newcastle very well. But they

stopped Newcastle playing and it was a real team effort. This ball

gets played in and the midfield of Sunderland. Cut more will trot back

and stop the ball into the front man. -- Cattermole. They threw

everything at Newcastle, they defended in numbers, threw

themselves at blocking shots. This time, as the ball is switched over

to bomb Polly, watched Larsson helping out. They double up on the

put to shifting. Turner, a great header out, and they were unlucky

with the follow-up. The goalkeeper was involved. He was part of the

defending. Overall, it was a great team effort from Sunderland but

Newcastle played a lot better in the second half. Let us go on to

the referee, and controversially be would give in 9.5 out of 10. Hugely

difficult game to referee. This was the first 20 seconds and you could

say that was a red card but he gives a yellow. This was a penalty

that hardly any of us saw until we see the replay. He spotted

Williamson pulling back on the shirt. I'm not so sure about this

one. I am not sure. But he certainly gets this one right with

Fraizer Campbell on Shola Ameobi. And this one here from Sessegnon is

just stupid. He had no choice but to send him off. He is closing him

down and the arm comes out and swings. It is right in front of the

referee. And Cattermole, who apart from the first 25 seconds was

brilliant, kept on after the game and gave the referee no choice but

He passed his cheeks out at the end of the game as if to say thank

fully that is over. A player said something to him well done for

getting through it and he said I am exhausted! Apart from the red cards

and the normal disciplinary, Martin O'Neill and Alan Pardew shook hands

after. I hope they are no repercussions. I do not think there

will be. They are experienced managers and we saw them shaking

hands. Goal of the Month still to come plus the says of the season

and all of yesterday's action. Fulham welcomed Wolverhampton

Wanderers to the banks of the Thames. Fulham have enjoyed a gay

old time in 2012, moving up the table and looking good. They have

taken 13 points from a possible 21 and were aiming for a third

straight win. As for Wolves, Terry Connor is in charge and looking to

his opposite dribbles to get him out of trouble. He is the boss, he

is the better for the championship, over a week but he has already had

plenty to chew on. Martin Jol has taken 15. From his last nine games

and in Pogrebynak he has acquired a striker who has played in both

games that have taken place since hackle was a timely one. -- tackle.

Tipped around the post by Wayne Hennessy. That is a really good

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save. Everything looking a little shot took the merest of deflections

on the way through. At Pavel Pogrebnyak buries the header into

the back of the walls that. -- dangers for Wolves. All of a sudden

it was three against three and one of those three was the deadly Pavel

Pogrebnyak. Wolves had hung on for long periods of this first half.

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three! He gets his 17th of the plan macro has himself a hat trick.

It's just saved inevitable. -- Pavel Pogrebnyak. He just about

in support. It was just off-target. The Fulham players really enjoying

goal that is! Waiting for the right moment for the final pass and it

came to Clint Dempsey. They just seemed to wait for the right

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Terry Connor's second game as a Pogrebynak looks some player. A

hat-trick today means it's now five in three for the Russian. As for

Wolves, this hammering puts Terry Connor and his boys back in the

bottom three. They've got a tough job on to avoid the drop.

And you had a nice balance today, you were in control, everything

about the play exuded confidence. We played well and that is always

worrying. Even when we had believed we could not relax because they had

a few strikers on the bench as well will could hurt you. But it was

almost perfect. What did you say to the guys in the dressing room after

90 minutes today? After the West Brom game we suffered a defeat but

came back and took a positive result at Newcastle. We took the

defeat today but hopefully we can bounce back. He looks as strong, he

seems to have all the attributes necessary. He is the type of player

that we needed. It is a bit of a coincidence as well, as so many

strikers on the market. But he was strikers on the market. But he was

the right one for us. I'm sure if you're looking forward

to pronouncing that name! I thought he was great, I did the analysis on

him last week and was very impressed. And equally impressed

this week, he looks big, he looks strong. He runs into the channels,

he works hard. He is obviously enjoying his football. He came from

enjoying his football. He came from the German league in. I do not we

know what will this would doing here. -- what Wolves were doing

here. This is not as easy as it looks. There is such a thing as a

perfect hat-trick. Clint Dempsey has got two brothers

were also in the clowns as well. His second goal probably summed up

the game. It did. It gets boring after a while if you do not speed

it up. Just keep your eye on how many players they have and they

have got nowhere near the ball. Look how many men forward that

Fulham have got, just four. And they walk past them as if they are

not there. Getting them back is not enough, you have to work the ball

as well. And that finish was superb. Wolves have got big problems at the

back. That was all more or less down to defensive errors.

The home fixtures other stand-out ones. That is their chance to try

ones. That is their chance to try to pick up some points.

Right, a lot more to come tonight, but let's pause for a quick glance

but let's pause for a quick glance but let's pause for a quick glance

at the notice board. tonight,

areas areas documentary, QPR:

Year Plan, showing the ups and downs, perils and pitfalls, which

ultimately led to their promotion to the premier league. That's at

11:15 on BBC2. Switching sports, and the British

Olympics swimming trials began yesterday and they continue all

next week. You can watch the drama unfold on the red button every day

from 6.25 in the evening. And looking further ahead to next

Sunday, Match of the Day 2 hosts both title favourites. City are at

Swansea, United host West Brom, and also, Norwich take on Wigan. That's

also, Norwich take on Wigan. That's at 10 o'clock on BBC2.

Right, time for February's Goal Of The Month and picking a winner from

the seven shortlisted is big Alan Shearer. So I would imagine goals

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Finished with that left foot, like a rocket.

Three in the middle here, what a chance. 25 seconds into the second

half! Matta did not think twice! Grapeshot, what a goal! Fabulous

strike by Mark Davies. Talk about a stopping that one.

Great effort. How about that? He opened his body up so he could

equaliser. His control was good, at equaliser. His control was good, at

the finish explosive. I do not want to be accused of bias so I'm going

to go for Fraser Campbell of Sunderland. I spotted was a great

strike. A good touch to set it up. That is a tub skill to do that.

Duff. Not to be outdone, we'll be doffing

our cap to the keepers at the end of the show. But now to Cheslea and

the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas. His last match turned out to be at

last June that he has seen his side win only three in the last 12. West

Brom were after their third successive victory for only the

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drug bit wide. -- and he has put it Cole. Lampard! Late drama at the

Hawthorns. And not the sort that Andre Villas-Boas wanted to see.

you think you will get another chance? His three wins enough for

people to make that decision? The results had not been great,

there is no doubt about that, and he knew what he was getting into

when he took the job. But you do not go in expecting to any have

two-thirds of the season. Hit the remit for Roman Abramovich was to

evolve Chelsea into a new team with the younger manager any have to

give him time. He has not done that. His old crate of sacking the

manager after five minutes has come back. He be keep on doing that,

they will never be successful. me out on that subject. They have

had European Cup's and even a World Cup winner, so what is wrong?

has been talk about him is picking the team more who is picking some

of the players to bring into the Ancelotti was sort of given some

players and, in the end, you have to play them. When somebody cost

�50 million, the manager has to play them. Also, be characters in

the dressing room. Yes, a hard dressing room to go into. I think

the players have not done him any favours. Iping should keep your own

counsel. Keep your mouth shut and try to get back in the side. The

think his with Chelsea, would it be refreshing it Roman Abramovich had

come out and said he is my man, we are changing, with it be his new

Chelsea, he is going be there for two years, and give him time, and

maybe finish mid-table next year as a building process. People flock to

talk -- like to talk about money back Manchester City, but in that

situation when the Mancini did back in, the end is to be exactly that

and look at the rich old cent. were right. But there are big

characters in most dressing rooms and a lot of it is down to man

management and how you handle those players. The rumour is that he is

not a great communicator in the dressing room. I think Roman

Abramovich has gone for him thinking he was the new Mourinho

and it has not worked. Renewables in town this week, surprise,

surprise. There's an England job available, there is perhaps the

Spurs job available, there's even a Chelsea job available. Let us get

marine yet in a picture in London! Now to the rest of yesterday's

night antics are true, he worked hard to appease the wrath of his

manager. He put on a show of his own against Bolton. He is

unimpressed manager said if he had only got an early night he might

get a chance through their impressive Japanese teenager,

Miyaichi, but it was all about goal. Swansea now exit 11 points

above the dotted line. The visitors were hoping to spot -- stop the rot

a premature end. He got a straight end for this challenge. Swansea

played half an hour with only ten men as Wigan tried to make the

extra man count but couldn't. David Dunn proved the undoing of

Aston Villa are to salvage a vital particularly busy day, so here is

to you, Mr Robinson, for keeping Blackburn in contention. Saved by

Robinson twice! Some harsh words clean sheet for Blackburn but all

the plaudits to Robinson, surely England's number one, for two, or

three. A good point away from home for Everton but QPR avoid defeat

Royston Drenthe! But Royston Drenthe became the villain of the

piece with this challenge. The QPR owner sitting amongst the fans is

has enraged as every one of them. It is in! The goalkeeper came but

did not claim. Off the inside of the post! And off the post again!

Staggering. Royston Drenthe has up 59 shots on goal this season.

Matthew Etherington was class in a his goal tally and Peter Crouch

complaining bitterly that the throw-in should have been a threat

to them, but from it, Etherington burst through. We have simply run

out of things to say about Robin van Persie. Two more goals and

three more points for Arsenal. Suarez provided a major talking

point. We decided this is a penalty. Liverpool have not been great at

the us all season. Dirk Kuyt. Saved! Say it again! A really good

Liverpool, you you could say, should be three up by now -- we

have only played. Robin van Persie yet again, he wells? This is what

Lewis a virus can do, and Liverpool were impressive throughout. -- Luis

31st time this season. That is instinctive, magnificent van Persie.

We have already had put very's Goal of the Month, Michelle Wie do the

one for March now? -- shall we took March? That is such a difficult

technique. You can see his eyes have not moved from the ball, it is

sensational. Expectation at Arsenal. They had AC Milan, 4-0 down on

Tuesday night! We start with their headlines for our finish. It's

three and easy as United make Spurs suffer at the Lane. It's a

demolition derby - two red cards, as Shola's late show sees honours

even at St James. Blast-nost at the Cottage as Pavel hits a treble as

Fulham whallop the Wanderers. And it's the fall of another Roman

Empire as AVB gets the chop. United again respond on a Sunday to

close the gap back to two at the top. Spurs are third but Arsenal

are now closing in. Newcastle stay sixth after that point and Fulham

move up into fantastic eighth. In the other half, Sunderland stay

12th - but that 5-0 hammering sends TC's men into the bottom three,

where the dogfight is set to continue until the end of the

season. Here's some things you may have missed.

Now, take note of this Arsenal fan... He'll be back later. He's at

slip be bonkers! On the pitch, relief for the linesman. At the

Etihad, the mascot milks his part. Back with our friend at Anfield...

And finally, the commenator's outake of the week award goes to

John Roader. Plenty of Endeavour from both team so far. Not a great